My Genealogy Hound

STEPHEN H. MARTIN is the owner and proprietor of one of Three Oaks’ most successful business enterprises, the general mercantile establishment, well known in the county as a prominent emporium of trade. Mr. Martin was born in southern Indiana on New Year’s Day of 1844. His ancestors for several generations were residents of New Jersey, and his paternal great-grandfather was a hero of the Revolutionary War. Grandfather Isaac Martin was born in New Jersey, as was also the father of our subject, E. S. Martin, the latter having been reared in the State of his nativity. He was married there to Miss Rachel, the daughter of Stephen Harland, and after that important event he removed to Indiana, where he followed his trade of a shoemaker. Later he learned the trade of a mason, which he followed in connection with farming.

In 1845 or 1846, E. S. Martin came to Michigan, and, locating in Berrien County, purchased a farm on section 22, Three Oaks Township. The land had been partially cleared by its former owner, a Mr. Paddock, and consisted of about one hundred acres. The active manual labor connected with improving the property was done by the sons, while the father was engaged at his trade. There were six children in the family, of whom five are still living. They are: Isaac W., a fruit farmer residing in Riverside, Cal.; our subject; William A., formerly Treasurer of La Porte County, Ind., and now in business in the city of La Porte; Abraham F., who has a large furniture establishment at La Porte, the business being conducted under the firm name of Martin Bros.; John E., who is engaged in the dry-goods business at La Porte. Elizabeth married Marion Love, a farmer residing in Three Oaks.

In 1891 Mr. Martin, Sr., removed to the city of La Porte, where he and his estimable wife make their home. They are active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are people whose upright characters and nobility of disposition have endeared them to a host of acquaintances. While not a partisan in his political opinions, and preferring the quiet happiness of domestic life, undisturbed by the cares incident to public life, Mr. Martin, nevertheless, takes considerable interest in all matters of local and general importance and invariably casts his ballot and gives his influence on behalf of the Democratic party. An industrious, energetic man, he is passing the declining days of his useful existence amid the comforts accumulated through years of toil.

At the age of two years our subject accompanied his parents to Berrien County, and grew to manhood in Three Oaks Township, where he commenced his studies in the district schools. For a short time he attended the New Carlisle Normal, at New Carlisle, Ind., and at the age of twenty-one started out in life for himself, first engaging in the sawmill business in Three Oaks Township for one year. Then, with his eldest brother, he came to the village of Three Oaks, where for three years he engaged in the grocery business. Disposing of his interest to his brother, he went to New Carlisle, Ind., and embarked in the hardware business. Thence he removed to South Haven, and for seven years conducted an extensive and profitable trade in his mercantile establishment. In 1879 he came to Three Oaks and opened a general store, where he has a complete assortment of dry goods, clothing, groceries, general merchandise and hardware. He also conducts a first-class livery stable and caters to the best trade in the city.

May 20, 1869, occurred the marriage of Mr. Martin to Miss Irene, daughter of William H. McDaniel, a traveling salesman of New Carlisle, Ind. Mrs. Martin was born in Ohio, but was quite young when she removed to New Carlisle and her education was received in that city. They are the parents of four children: Clyde, Estella, Sherwood and Paul. In politics, Mr. Martin is a stanch Democrat and invariably gives his support to his chosen party. At the present time he is serving as Supervisor of Three Oaks Township, of which position he has been the incumbent for three years, he also served as Township Treasurer for two years, and was a member of the Common Council of Three Oaks. In his social connection he is identified with the Order of Maccabees.